The reunion of The Princess Bride theme park is finally upon us! As of last week, fans of the movie can make their way to Feucht Stadium for one last glimpse of iconic characters before the attraction closes forever. Let’s look back at some of the main reasons why Robert Pattinson, who plays the Dread Pirate Roberts in the film, did not make an appearance at the reunion.
Personal Reasons
The most obvious reason is personal. When asked why he didn’t attend the reunion, Pattinson replied:
“It’s a funny story. I actually turned down the role of Roberts in The Princess Bride park because I had just spent two years filming The Rover, which was a very character-driven film. When I read the script for Princess Bride, I realized that it was quite a different character to play. So I passed on the opportunity to be in the park, but I would have loved to have seen it.”
Though he did not end up playing the role of Roberts, he did have a part in the park as one of the guards. So, even if he didn’t choose to be in the reunion, he was still in the park for part of it!
Filming Demeanor
Another reason why Robert Pattinson wasn’t in the reunion is that he was busy filming Demeanor, his directorial debut. The movie premiered last month to great acclaim, and holds a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It also picked up an award at the Slamdance Film Festival last week!
With such great reviews and recognition, it’s clear that Demeanor is going to be one of the great British films of the 21st century. It also marks Pattinson’s return to directing after a decade of acting. Since he was 15 years old, Pattinson has been devoted to acting, and has never looked back.
Pattinson was forced to put his acting career on hold when he became seriously ill with anorexia back in 2011. He spent 14 months in a wheelchair, and it was during this time that he began to question his previous life of excess. He eventually decided to put acting on hold to focus on his health, and took a step back from the limelight. This undoubtedly had an effect on his decision to not be in the reunion.
Busy With Royalty
Another reason why Robert Pattinson might have decided not to be in the reunion is that he is currently very busy working on the third installment of the royal wedding film trilogy, due for release in the next few years.
The first movie in the series, 1952, focused on the romance between Princess Elizabeth and Crown Prince Frederick, and was a critical and commercial success. The second installment, 2012, followed a year later and focused on the engagement and marriage of Princess Margaret and HM The King. Like the first, the second film was also a critical and commercial hit, winning several awards, including the Jury Prize at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival.
Finally, the third and probably most exciting installment of the trilogy, due to be released in 2022, will cover the future king’s accession to the throne and his coronation. It is likely that Robert Pattinson will be involved in one way or another, as he is expected to play a crucial role in the success of the entire series.
No Time Off
Pattinson had to return to work even before filming Demeanor began. While he was in the hospital, he was given a role in the upcoming sci-fi thriller Extinction Machine, due for release in September 2021. This will be the first film that he has been able to work on since the completion of Demeanor, and it will be fascinating to see his return to genre films after such a long break.
Pattinson was also given a small part in the upcoming comedy series The King, which will premiere on Netflix in January 2022. It’s unclear at this stage whether he will appear in the entire series or be in just one episode, as he had to drop out of the cast of the first season of The Handmaid’s Tale due to creative differences. This was a great shame, as it is highly unlikely that the second season would have had the same script as the first.
Too Scared
Pattinson has admitted that he was very close to turning down the role of Robin in The Princess Bride park. Though he had just completed a year in the Hollywood blockbuster Black Widow, the story of a female protagonist in a comic book series, he was very intimidated by the prospect of appearing in a family-friendly Disney film. This is understandable, given that the first trailer for The Princess Bride park was released last year, and it features several jokes about violence and death. Though these jokes are in character, they may still offend some people.
It’s not just the jokes about death that make the trailer unusual. The fact that it is a trailer for a family film is also extraordinary, and the fact that the main character is a mute adds to the comedy. The trailer is filled with hilarious one-liners about everything from family to food, and it will be fascinating to see how the finished film matches the hype. If it does live up to expectations, then it will undoubtedly be one of the greatest Disney animated films of all time.
Too Many Parts
Pattinson is expected to play a major role in the upcoming Disney live-action adaptation of Jack and the Beanstalk. The role was written specifically for him, and will reunite him with his Limitless co-star Beanie Feldstein. Though the film is set for release next year, it’s unlikely that we will see much of Pattinson on screen, as he will be busy filming The King and The Princess Bride park.
It’s funny to think that, just over a decade ago, Robert Pattinson was almost unrecognizable in the role of Emmet in The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Since then, he has gone on to star in major American and British films, and has proven to be one of the greatest teenaged actors of our time. Now, at the age of 27, he is about to make a triumphant return to the big screen in unprecedented ways, playing crucial roles in some of the most highly anticipated films of the next few years. He will also be able to look back on a successful run as one of the greatest modern-day romantics, having played opposite the beautiful and talented Megan Fox in two of the most memorable films of the 2010s.